Georgia · Net metering

Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative

Sets the billing terms for excess solar generation sent back to the grid by residential customers in Georgia -- see the credit rate and how it shapes payback below.

Avoided cost rate
stated benefit
Residential
eligible customers
14.5 yr
Georgia baseline payback
2
other Georgia programs

What it means

In Georgia, a 6 kW system already pays back in about 14.5 years on ~$1,161/year of modeled savings, and the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative stacks on top of that, on top of any federal credit.

Avoided cost r…
stated benefit
14.5 yr
baseline payback (pre-incentive)
3
Georgia programs that stack
partial
net-metering policy

Payback and savings are modeled from public NREL/EIA data; the program benefit is summarized from DSIRE and may change.

Program description

Georgia Power purchases excess generation from residential solar at avoided cost rate.

Program at a glance

Program type
Net metering
Eligible customers
Residential
Stated benefit
Avoided cost rate
State electricity rate
12.5¢/kWh
Georgia solar score
31/100
Visit the official program page

How Georgia compares to the U.S. average

Why this incentive matters more (or less) here - Georgia's solar fundamentals against the national average.

Irradiance
Georgia: 5.3 kWh/m²/day
U.S. avg: 4.82 kWh/m²/day
Electricity rate
Georgia: 12.5¢/kWh
U.S. avg: 15.98¢/kWh
Modeled payback
Georgia: 14.5 yr
U.S. avg: 14.2 yr

Source: NREL irradiance and U.S. EIA rates; payback modeled by PlainSolarData. Bars are scaled to the larger of the two values per metric.

Solar's trajectory in Georgia

The market this incentive operates in: total installed solar capacity in Georgia reported to the EIA.

-2000 MW0 MW2.0 GW4.0 GW6.0 GW 2012201420162018202020222024 5.0 GW
Georgia now has about 5.0 GW of installed solar, the backdrop programs like this one are built on.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, installed solar nameplate capacity As of 2024

Georgia's solar incentive stack

How this net metering sits among Georgia's 2 tracked programs, by type

programs

What this shows Georgia tracks 2 incentive types; net metering (1 program) governs the billing side, while the state's other tracked types handle upfront cost or ongoing payments.

Source DSIRE incentives registry As of 2024

How this incentive fits Georgia's solar picture

The Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative governs how Georgia credits excess solar generation sent back to the grid, one of the state's DSIRE-tracked solar policies. Eligibility is scoped to residential customers, with a stated benefit of Avoided cost rate. DSIRE lists no scheduled sunset, though enabling legislation and appropriations can still be revised year to year.

That baseline is slower than most states, which raises the stakes for every incentive on the table. Georgia averages 5.3 kWh/m²/day of usable sunlight and residential rates of 12.5¢/kWh, producing an estimated 9,286 kWh/year and $1,161 of annual utility offset on a typical 6 kW system costing $16,800. That baseline already implies a 14.5-year simple payback and a 25-year modeled net of roughly $12,225 before this incentive - every dollar this net metering delivers compresses that payback further.

A handful of other levers are worth checking alongside this one. Georgia has 3 solar incentive programs indexed in DSIRE, including adjacent options like GA Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption. The state's net-metering policy is classified as partial, which governs how excess generation is credited and often decides whether a given program is worth claiming for a specific household.

Your next step

  • See Georgia's full solar profile, score, irradiance, rates, payback, and every program you can claim. Georgia solar data
  • Run the savings calculator with your real bill to see how this incentive changes your own payback. ROI calculator
  • See how net-metering credits are valued state by state. Net-metering guide

Estimates here are modeled from public data and are not financial advice; confirm program terms and your own eligibility before relying on a dollar figure.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative?
The Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative is a net metering available to residential solar customers in Georgia. The stated benefit is Avoided cost rate.
How does the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative work?
Georgia Power purchases excess generation from residential solar at avoided cost rate.
Who is eligible for the Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative?
The program is available to residential customers in Georgia. Check the official program page for current eligibility requirements and deadlines.
How does this incentive affect solar ROI in Georgia?
Georgia has an estimated 14.5-year payback for a 6 kW system before incentives, with about $1,161/year in modeled savings. A net metering like this lowers upfront cost or raises annual return, shortening that payback. Run the calculator for a figure based on your own bill.
Are there other solar incentives in Georgia?
Yes - Georgia has 3 solar incentive programs tracked in DSIRE, including GA Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption. State programs are designed to stack on top of any available federal solar tax credit rather than replace it.

Incentive data from the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency); state solar economics from NREL and the U.S. EIA. See our methodology.